Power operated orbital motion tool



Aug. 4, 1959 A. N. EMMONS 2,897,902

POWER OPERATED ORBITAL MOTION TOOL Filed March 12. 1956 I 3 Sheets-Sheet1 INVENTOR. A/"Zfiur /V. E 771m 0178 Attorney.

1959 A. N. EMMONS 2,897,902

POWER OPERATED ORBITAL MOTION TOOL- Filed March 12. 1956 3 SheetsSheet 2IN VEN TOR.

BY Art/var [Vii 707770775 tor/76y.

Aug. 4, 1959 Filed March 12, 1956 A. N. EMMONS POWER OPERATED ORBITALMOTION TOOL 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

Art/7hr N [7777770775 WWW flwo/"h u,

United States Patent 2,897,902- POWER OPERATED ORBITAL MOTION TOOLArthur N. Emmons, Nedrow, N.Y., assignor to The Porter-Cable MachineCompany, Syracuse, N. a corporation of New York 1 Application March 12,1956, Serial No. 570,749

2 Claims. (Cl. 172-40) This invention relates to power-operated,hand-manipulated tools having an orbital motion. In the embodiment shownin the drawings, the tool is provided with accompanying drawings inwhich like characters desig nate corresponding parts in all the views.

In the drawings-- Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an orbitalmotion tool embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 3--3, Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a view taken on line 4-4, Figure 3.

The tool consists of an integral cast body having upper and lowerportions 11, 12, of circular formation. The lower portion 12 is ofgreater diameter than the upper portion 11 and is positioned eccentricthereto. The lower portion 12 is formed with a circular flange 13depending from the periphery of the portion 12 a considerable distanceand being reinforced by a series of ribs 14. The portion 12 also hasdepending from it a series of flexible posts 17 formed of rubber or likematerial fixedly secured at their upper ends to the portion 12 of thebody. A tool carrying plate, here shown in the form of a disk 18, isfixed to the lower ends of the posts 17, and the peripheral portion 19of this plate is located in adjacency to the lower edge of the flange13.

The flexible posts 17 preferably terminate a short distance above theplane of the lower edge of the flange 13, and the plate 18 is preferablyformed with an annular portion 20 offset upwardly from the plane of theplate. This arrangement tends to prevent the entrance of dirt or dustinto the compartment defined by the depending flange 13.

Inasmuch as the device shown in the drawings is in the nature of acultivator or soil conditioning tool, the plate 18 is provided with amultiplicity of depending earth engaging prongs 25.

The body is formed with a gear compartment 26 in which a verticallydisposed shaft 28 is journalled, the intermediate portion of the shaftbeing mounted in a bearing 30 carried by a cap member 31 detachablysecured to the body, as by screws 33 threading into apertures 34. Thelower end of the shaft 28 terminates in proximity to the plate 18 andhas fixedly mounted on it a drive member 35 formed with a depending hubportion 36, formed with an eccentrically arranged cylindrical surface onwhich a bearing 38 is mounted. The drive member 35 is formed with adepending arcuate counterweight portion 39 and an upwardly extendingareuate counterpoised portion 40. The counterweight portion 39 and thecounterpoised portion 40 extend in an arc of substantially The plate 18has fixedly secured 'to it an upwardly extending cylindrical flange 41enclosing the bearing 38. The bearing 38 is detachably fixed on the hubportion 36 of the drive member by a washer 42 and a nut 43 threaded onthe lower end of the shaft 28. This arrangement, in conjunction with theflexible posts 17, effects an orbital movement of the plate 18 uponrotation of shaft 28. I

The shaft 28 has fixed to it at its upper portion a gear 44 arranged inmesh with a pinion 45, formed on the lower end of an armature shaft 46of a motor mounted vertically in a housing 48 detachably secured to theupper body portion 11, as by screws 50. The motor housing 48 is formedwith an integral socket 51 in which a handle bar 52 is fixed.

What I claim is:

1. A power-operated, hand-manipulated, earth working tool comprising abody having upper and lower portions of circular form, said lowerportion being of greater diameter than said upper portion and beingpositioned eccentrically thereto, said body being formed with anenclosed gear compartment, said lower body portion having a dependingcircular flange, a plurality of flexible posts fixed at their upper endsto and depending from said lower body portion within said flange, acircular tool carrying plate fixed to the lower ends of said posts withthe peripheral portion of said plate located in close adjacency to thelower edge of said flange, a plurality of earth engaging prongs fixed toand depending from said plate, a vertically disposed shaft journalled insaid gear compartment coaxially of said lower body portion, the lowerportion of said shaft depending from said compartment, a motor housingmounted on the upper body portion, a motor disposed vertically in saidhousing, gearing in said compartment operatively connecting said motorto said shaft, a drive member for imparting orbital motion to saidplate, said member being fixed to the lower end of said shaft and havinga low hub portion formed with a surface eccentric to the axis of saidshaft, a bearing mounted on said eccentric surface, a cylindrical memberfixed to said plate and encircling said bearing, said drive member beingformed with an arcuate shaped depending counterweight portion movable ina path encircling said bearing, said drive member being also formed withan upwardly extending arcuate shaped counterpoised portion, and meansfor detachably affix-ing said drive member to the lower end of saidshaft.

2.,A power-operated, hand-manipulated, earth working tool comprising abody having upper and lower portions of circular form, said lowerportion being of greater diameter than said upper portion and beingpositioned eccentrically thereto, said body being formed with anenclosed gear compartment, said lower body portion having a dependingcircular flange, a plurality of flexible posts fixed at their upper endsto and depending from said lower body portion within said flange, acircular tool carrying plate having an upwardly offset annular portionin proximity to said flange fixedly secured to the lower ends of saidposts, said plate having a marginal portion located in close adjacencyto the lower edge of said flange, a plurality of earth engaging prongsfixed to and depending from said plate, a jack shaft journalledvertically in said gear compartment and depending therefrom, a motorhousing mounted on the upper body portion, a motor vertically mounted insaid housing and Patented Aug. 4, 1959.

arcuate shaped counter-poised portion extending upwardly toward saidgear compartment, and'means for detachably affixing said drive member tothe lower end of said jack shaft and said bearing to said drive member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,613,582 Harshberger Oct. 14, 1952 2,625,867 Hands Jan. 20, 19532,697,897 Dickinson Dec. 28, 1954 2,774,292 Hartmann Dec. 18, 1956

